General News
26 May, 2026
Centre a hub for all things community
Dunolly Neighbourhood Centre's volunteers were celebrated last week for their contributions to the small town's community.
Dunolly Neighbourhood Centre aims to “nurture and nourish” their community — an effort made possible thanks to their selfless volunteers.
On any given day there’s activity in the old nurses’ residence on Havelock Street.
Whether it’s activities, including crafts and woodwork, to food through the pantry or community lunch, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The centre’s coordinator Kath Ryan said the goal is to nurture Dunolly’s sense of community by meeting people where they’re at.
“It doesn’t matter what level of education, where they are in life, what they do, where they’ve been, if you can relate to a person where they are they feel seen and heard,” she said.
But it wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, which Ms Ryan is quick to recognise, highlighting the efforts of more than a dozen people.
“They put in a ton of work and they ask for nothing in return. They’re doing it because they’re decent people, they see the purpose of what we’re doing, and they understand that the only way it gets done is if we get people helping us,” she said.
“I’m so relieved that I have them.”
However, speaking to some of the volunteers, many of them get just as much out of their work as they put in.
Despite living in Carisbrook Kay Moore said she found community in Dunolly through the centre.
“If you’re not feeling 100 percent by the time you’ve spent five minutes here — look,” she said.
While Ms Moore spoke laughter and music filled the building.
“That’s what we need more than anything,” she said.
“Everyone fits here and we’re doing good for the community.”
Fellow volunteer Angie Barclay came to the centre following a horrible grief — when her two elderly dogs died.
“All that sorrow and heartbreak I went through with losing my dogs. I had to get pet grief counselling [because] I was off my dial,” she said.
“When you’re grieving like that it’s because the love was so great and you carry them forever.”
But she found comfort through the centre’s community.
“The people here are so nice — welcoming, caring, they offer help,” she said.
Eventually she shifted from client to volunteer.
“It was just really nice sitting down with people you felt safe with, the community spirit too, you’re all living in the same town. If everyone contributes, keeps talking to each other, and being there for each other, things can only get better really,” she said.
“We all want our community to thrive and I think it is.”
Helping that along are people like Natalie Smith, or Nat in the Hat, who leads the centre’s woodworking.
She continues the legacy of her predecessor, Mike Hiley, who posthumously received Dunolly Citizen of the Year in 2025.
Ms Smith said he welcomed everyone to woodworking, which she continues to champion, inviting the residents of Havilah Aged Care.
“I love seeing, when they finish a project, the smiles on their faces, the achievements, and stuff like that. It gives me a buzz,” she said.
While their stories are unique together they are united by a willingness to volunteer.
It’s an effort Ms Ryan said is commonplace in Dunolly.
“Little towns like Dunolly, because we’re a bit further out, we do rely on each other to fill in those gaps and there are a lot of gaps between services,” she said.
“Without volunteers a town like Dunolly wouldn’t function.”